Night Gaze Camp App for Android (iPhone coming soon)
Last updated 2026-10-29
The Night Gaze Camp app answers one question: which campground has the best sky tonight? It ranks US federal campgrounds and national parks by tonight’s clouds, moonlight, estimated sky darkness and aurora chances, then lays out a multi-night stargazing trip. It takes the sky tools on this website, such as Moon Tonight and the stargazing calendar, and ties them to places where you can stay the night.
Phone app
The tools on this site run in any browser. The app adds what only a phone at the campsite can do: it knows tonight's clouds, moon and aurora for the campgrounds around you.
What only the app does
Pick tonight's campground by sky, not by guess
Clouds, moonlight and light pollution decide a stargazing night, and you would check each one on a different page.
- Android: On Google Play now Ranks federal campgrounds from 0 to 100 by clouds after dark, moonlight and estimated sky darkness. Each card shows the estimated Bortle class, number of sites, RV length limit, hookups and drive time.
- iPhone and iPad: Coming soon The same ranking by clouds, moonlight and estimated sky darkness.
Plan a whole stargazing trip
A good week has several dark nights, and each night needs its own campground.
- Android: On Google Play now Free plans 2 nights. Pro plans up to 14 nights, one campground per night, and exports the trip as a PDF or adds it to your calendar.
- iPhone and iPad: Coming soon The same trip planner.
Drive north to the aurora
A map of the aurora is no use until you know which campground is under it.
- Android: On Google Play now Shows the Kp index and a northern lights line from the NOAA OVATION forecast, with the campgrounds inside the line and how far north to drive.
- iPhone and iPad: Coming soon The same aurora line and Kp index.
Find the Milky Way core
Knowing the Milky Way is up does not tell you where to point the camera.
- Android: On Google Play now A compass shows where the galactic core is right now. A red night mode keeps your eyes dark-adapted.
Offline state maps for nights without signal
The best skies are usually where your phone has no bars.
- Android: On Google Play now Download a state with its campgrounds, roads and a light pollution layer before you go. Free includes one state map; Pro unlocks all of them.
Want the iPhone and iPad version?
It is not on the App Store yet. Leave your email and we send you one message when it is.
One email when the iPhone and iPad app is out, nothing else. To be removed, write to support@nightgazecamp.com. What we store.
Free and Pro
- Free: the 10 nearest campgrounds ranked for tonight, the map, the aurora line, the Milky Way compass, the new moon reminder, one offline state map and 2-night trips.
- Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription: it ranks every campground within 200 miles, plans up to 14 nights, exports PDF and calendar files and unlocks all offline state maps. On Android it is paid through Google Play.
Private by design
Your location stays on your phone and is used only to sort campgrounds. No account, no ads, no tracking (privacy policy). Sky brightness is an estimate from satellite night lights and is labelled as one; how it works.
Platforms and name
Android phones and tablets: on Google Play now. The Google Play listing is still named Stargaze Camp: Aurora & Stars; the app is planned to take the name Night Gaze Camp in a later update. iPhone and iPad: not on the App Store yet, a new version is being built; the form above sends you one email when it is out. The website tools are free in your browser.
Data sources
Weather: US National Weather Service. Aurora and Kp: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. Campgrounds: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov). National parks: National Park Service. Night Gaze Camp is an independent app, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Links to every source and the licences are on the data sources and credits page; the app lists them under More, Data sources.
Questions? See Support and FAQ.